Egypt emerges as covert Drone hub in Sudan war, New York Times reports

Egypt has quietly entered Sudan’s civil war by hosting a clandestine drone base used to strike Sudanese paramilitary forces, according to an investigation by The New York Times, signaling a major escalation in a conflict increasingly shaped by foreign powers and advanced military technology.

Citing satellite imagery, flight records, videos and interviews with U.S., European and Middle Eastern officials, the Times reported that advanced long-range military drones have been operating for at least six months from an airstrip in Egypt’s Western Desert, carrying out strikes deep inside Sudan against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The drone operations are based at East Oweinat, a remote desert reclamation project near Egypt’s border with Sudan. Originally built to support large-scale agriculture, the site has undergone a quiet military expansion since 2018, according to satellite imagery reviewed by the Times. By 2024, the airstrip had been upgraded with a second runway, multiple hangars and satellite communications equipment. Turkish-made Akinci drones — among the most advanced combat drones in the world — were later observed on the tarmac after Turkish cargo aircraft landed at the base, the report said. The Times found that by December, at least two Akinci drones were operating from East Oweinat, striking RSF targets more than 800 miles inside Sudan.

According to American and European officials cited in the report: The United Arab Emirates supplies weapons, including Chinese-made CH-95 drones, to the RSF. Saudi Arabia and Qatar back Sudan’s military. The Sudanese army has also obtained weapons from Turkey, Iran and Russia. Turkey’s Baykar defense firm supplies drones used by Sudan’s military, though Ankara says exports comply with international law and denies direct involvement.

Officials told the Times that Sudan’s military drones are being hidden and operated from Egyptian territory to shield them from RSF attacks, though it remains unclear whether Egyptian or Sudanese personnel control the aircraft.

Video footage and satellite imagery analyzed by the Times showed Turkish-made guided munitions striking RSF convoys near Sudan’s borders with Libya and Chad, key supply routes for the paramilitary group. At least four Akinci drones, each costing roughly $25 million, have reportedly been shot down by RSF forces in recent months, according to images verified by the Times.

Drone warfare has rapidly transformed the dynamics of Sudan’s civil war, particularly since 2023, when the RSF began deploying drones to offset their lack of traditional air power. Initially, these drones were used for reconnaissance and small-scale strikes, but their role quickly expanded to include precision attacks on military bases and urban centers. This shift gave the RSF a tactical advantage over the Sudanese Armed Forces, who relied more heavily on conventional ground and air assets but struggled to adapt to the asymmetric threat posed by drones.

By 2024 and 2025, drone strikes had escalated to target critical infrastructure. RSF drones bombarded Port Sudan, hitting fuel depots, airports, and naval facilities. Later, in December 2025, drone attacks on a power plant in Atbara caused widespread blackouts in Khartoum and Port Sudan.

In early 2026, the conflict saw further intensification with RSF drone swarms directed at the Merowe Dam and nearby military installations. Although the SAF claimed to intercept many of these drones, the attack highlighted the growing scale and sophistication of RSF operations. At the same time, RSF forces intercepted SAF drones over Nyala in South Darfur, showing that both sides are now actively deploying drones for offensive and defensive purposes. This mutual escalation has effectively opened a new aerial front in the war, where control of the skies no longer depends solely on traditional aircraft.

The strategic impact of drone warfare in Sudan is profound. For the RSF, drones have extended their reach, allowing them to strike deep into SAF-controlled territory and disrupt vital infrastructure. For the SAF, drones represent both a threat and an opportunity, as they attempt to build counter-drone capabilities while deploying their own systems. Moreover, the proliferation of drones raises concerns about foreign suppliers and regional actors fueling the conflict, making Sudan’s war not just a domestic struggle but a potential flashpoint for wider instability in the Horn of Africa.